Conveyer



March 6, 1934. NEHER r AL 1,949,691

I I CONVEYER Filed July 24, 1930 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics CONVEYER Application July 24, i930, Serial No. 470,324

@laims.

The invention relates generally to overhead conveyers and more particularly to a novel monorail type of overhead conveyer,

It is the general object of the invention to pro- 5 vide a new and improved overhead monorail conveyer of the character embodying a track in the form of a continuous loop having horizontal curves and a chain of trolleys on the track carrying load supporting means, which is simple and to compact in construction and emcient in operation.

Another object is to provide a new and intproved overhead monorail conveyor comprising a continuous loop track, a plurality of trolley units movable on the track and means for connecting and guiding said units sons to enable them to move through vertical, horizontal or spiral curves.

Another object is to provide a new and improved overhead monorail conveyer embodying trolley 39 units which are self-guiding in character so that the conveyor will operate efficiently and without chattering even though the track has relatively sharp horizontal curves.

Another object is to provide improved over- 5 head conveyor of the type comprising a track in the form of a continuous loophavlug horizontal curves and embodying means for driving the movable conveying means positioned above the tracls and operable to apply power directly to the 30 trolleys.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a plan view or one form or" con veyer for which the invention is particularly adapted, illustrating diagrammatically horizontal curves therein.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the conveyor shown in Fig. 1, illustrating diagrammatically vertical curves therein.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the preferred form of the invention, illustrating a horizontal curve.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec tion through the preferred form of the invention, illustrating vertical curves,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section through the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is anenlarged vertical section showing the means for driving the trolleys.

,Fig. l is an enlarged transverse section along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

For purposes of disclosure, we have illustrated 55 in the drawing and shall hereinafter describe in (pi. lea-an) detail the preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that We do not intend to limit our invention to the particular construction and arrangement shown, it being contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopecf the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In Figs; 1 and 2 we have illustrated an ere emplary embodiment of the invention embodied. in an overhead monorail conveyer comprising a track 1 in the form of a continuous loop having horizontal curves a, b, c, d, and e vertical curves 1, g and h, and intermediate straight portions. The track is shown suspended from a ceiling indi cated at 2 (Fig. ill by means of a plurality of rods 3.

The track". is preferably of the form shown most clearly in Fig. 5, wherein is disclosed as com prising a pair of laterally spaced lower suppor ing rails i mounted so as to provide a slot 5 therebetween, a pair or" upper railsfi opposing the lower rails, anda pair of side guide rails 7. Elie track may thus take the form oi a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending opposed channels with their open faces toward each other, and may be supported from the rods 3 by means of stirrups 8. The flanges of the channels then form the lower and upper rails and the webs of the channels function as side guide rails. The slot 5 intermediate the lower rails is provided for the load supporting means herein illustrated in the form of hooks 9 which hang down, one iron each of a plurality of trolleys it which ride upon and are supported by the track just mea tloned.

in the exemplary form of the invention, each I trolley comprisesa pair of frame members it which are pivotally connected at their adjacent ends by means of pivot pins formed by the up per ends of the load hooks 9, the trolleys being movably supported by means of a pair of load wheels or rollers 12 rotatably mounted on the frame members. The trolleys are connected to gether so as to form a continuous chain by means curves.

upper rails 6 so that the periphery of a wheel -may contact either on a lower rail or on an upper rail, but not on both at the same time. Thus, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the right hand trolley wheels are in contact with the lower rails just before going down the curve I, the center trolley has one pair of wheels in contact with the upper rails and the left hand trolley has its wheels entirely in contact with the upper rails.

The trolleys have an overall width slightly less than the distance between the lateral guide rails '7 so that the trolleys cannot contact both guide rails simultaneously and thereby tend to bind. Although in certain installations, such, for example, as those intended for transporting relatively light loads, it may be sufiicientto permit stationary parts of the trolleys, such as the ends of the wheel pins 14 (Fig. 5), to engage the inner side rail in going around a horizontal curve for the purpose of guiding the trolley around the curve, the invention preferably provides guide wheels or rollers 15 at the ends of the trolleys for this purpose. These wheels may have a diameter slightly less than the distance between the side rails 7 so that they can engage but one rail at a time. When guide wheels are employed the trolley frame members are preferably somewhat narrower than the diameter of the guide wheels so that the guide wheels, rather than stationary portions of the trolleys, guide the trolleys around As an additional means for guiding the trolleys along the track the lower rails 4 are preferably provided with upturned flanges 4.

The connecting means 13 are provided intermediate the trolleys to form a continuous or endless loop. These links'are preferably flexible in character so as to permit the trolleys to follow the track even though the track may be spiral in form. Furthermore, in order that the trolleys will be self-guiding in character and. to avoid chattering during operation of the conveyer, the connecting means are positioned substantially centrally with respect to the upper rails 6, lower rails 4 and side rails '7 so that the driving force passes through the axes of the load wheels.

The trolleys 10 are herein provided with driving dogs 16 (Figs. 4, 6 and 7), which dogs may be engaged by opposed dogs 1'? similar in character which are carried on a chain 18 of a tractor type power unit illustrated generally at 7' (Figs. 1 and. 2). The chain 18 is supported on rotatably mounted sprockets 19 and 20, one of which may be driven by suitable means. This power unit is positioned above the track so that the driving force is applied directly to the trolleys and in the horizontal plane of the wheel axes so that there is little or no tendency for the load supports 9 to swing. A channel or guide rail 21 is preferably provided for the lower run of the chain 18. This means for applying the power from: above and directly to the trolleys effectively prevents chattering of the trolleys along the track and insures a smooth and efficient operation of the conveyer so that the articles earried thereon will not be jarred.

The track 1 is preferably closed at the top by means of a web 22 (Fig. 5) between the flanges 6, a slot 23 being provided adjacent the lower run of the chain 18 as shown in Fig. '7. Thus the track may be of unitary construction and adapted to shield the trolleys by providing an effective housing therefor.

It will be apparent that no auxiliary equipment fied design, in addition to providing an efficient and smoothly operating conveyer, permits of economic manufacture and installation.

We claim as our invention:

1. An overhead monorail conveyer having, in combination, a track in the form of a continuous loop having horizontal and vertical curves and comprising a pair of laterally spaced channels forming upper and lower spaced rails and side guide rails, a plurality of trolleys each comprising a pair of pivotally connected frame members, means pivotally connecting said members, a load supporting means suspended from said pivot means and hanging downwardly through the slot formed between the lower rails, a pair of load wheels rotatably mounted on each frame member for operation on said lower or upper rails and lateral guide wheels on said frame members for operation on said side rails so that the trolleys are self guiding when in operation on the track, and a plurality of connecters intermediate successive trolleys and comprising flexible links attached at their opposite ends to adjacent trolleys substantially in the plane of the load wheel axes.

2. An overhead monorail conveyer having, in combination, a track in the form of a continuous loop having horizontal curves and comprising a pair of laterally spaced supporting rails and side guide rails, a plurality of trolleys each comprising apair of pivotally connected frame members, a pin pivotally connecting said frame members and extending downwardly through the slot formed between the supporting rails to form a load supporting means, a pair of load wheels rotatably mounted on each frame member for operation on said supporting rails and lateral guide wheels on said frame members for operation on said side rails so that the trolleys are self guiding when in operation on the track, and a plurality of connecters intermediate succesive trolleys and comprising links attached at their opposite ends to adjacent trolleys substantially in the plane of the load wheel axes.

3. An overhead monorail conveyer having, in combination, a track in the form of a continuous loop having horizontal and vertical curves and comprising a pair of laterally spaced upper supporting rails, a pair of laterally spaced lower supporting rails, a plurality of trolleys each comprising a pair of pivotally connected frame members, vertical pivot means connecting said frame members, a load supporting means hanging downwardly through the slot formed between the lower rails and a pair of load wheels rotatably mounted on each frame member for operation alternatively on said upper and lower rails, and a plurality of connecters intermediate successive trolleys and comprising means attached at their opposite ends to adjacent trolleys substantially in the plane of the load wheel axes.

4. An overhead monorail conveyer having, in combination, a track in the form of a continuous loop having horizontal and vertical curves and comprising a pair 01' laterally spaced upper rails, a pair voi! laterally spaced lower rails, a plurality of trolleys each comprising a pair of pivotally connected frame members, means pivotally connecting said frame members, a load supporting means suspended from said pivot means and hanging downwardly through a slot formed between the lower rails, a pair 01 load wheels rotatably mounted on each frame member for operation alternatively on said upper and lower rails, and a plurality of links intermediate successive trolleys and attached at their opposite ends to adjacent trolleys substantially in the plane of the load wheel axes so that the trolleys guide the links when the conveyer is in operation.

5. An overhead monorail conveyer having, in

combination, a track in the form of a continuous loop having horizontal curves, a plurality of trolleys operable on said track each comprising a pair of pivotally connected frame members, vertical pivot means connecting said frame members. load supporting means 1 extending downwardly therefrom, driving parts on the upper end of said pivot means, means connecting said trolleys to form a continuous loop, and means positioned above said track operable tddrive said trolleys along the track and embodying means engaging said parts on the trolleys for transmitting power directly to the trolleys.

ANTHONY Hanna; mom a. MADSON. 

